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Articles: Press Release
Hart and Brueckmann Ride Individual Tests as Action Continues at 2008
Paralympic Games in Equestrian
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
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Lexington, KY 40511-8483
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Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2008
By Joanie Morris
Hong Kong, China - Day two of competition at the 2008 Paralympic Games
got underway with the Grade II Individual tests in the main arena at Sha
Tin. The USA's representative, Rebecca Hart rode a solid test on her own
Norteassa but was scored very inconsistently by the five judges. Hart
and the 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding were placed anywhere from fourth
to 16th meaning that her final score was 62.545% - good enough for 12th
place in a very strong Grade II field.
"It was ok," said Hart after her test. "I'm relatively happy, he was a
little more settled, it was better (than Sunday). He was definitely a
little happier in there."
Hart, 24, from Erie, PA was born with Familial Spastic Paraplegia and
has been involved in Para Equestrian activities for over a decade. She
is looking forward to her third and final shot at a medal in the
Individual Freestyle on Wednesday evening. The arena proved to be quite
buzzy for some of the horses, even during the day. There is much more
atmosphere than many of the horses are accustomed to.
"I need to have a good warm-up and work on getting him to settle even
more," said Hart about her strategy for tomorrow. "I'm going to keep
working on getting him relaxed."
The first Paralympic medals in Equestrian were awarded after this Test
and Germany took home top honors with Britta Naepel and Cherubin 15
winning gold with 71.909%. Canada's Lauren Barwick rode Maile to silver
and C.C. Nielsen rounded out the top three with Rostorn's Hatim-T.
The last pair of the evening session was Team USA's Robin Brueckmann
riding Radetsky in the Grade IV Individual Test. The scored 56.387%. The
Summerfield, NC rider was pleased with how well the 7-year-old horse
handled the environment. Radetsky's inexperience was exposed in a couple
of spots, but on the whole Brueckmann was proud of her horse.
"He was very good in the environment," said Brueckmann who has reflex
sympathetic dystrophy in her right leg. "But we had some rough spots in
the test that I hadn't expected. He got a little bit heavy and when I
shifted my weight in the canter he switched leads. We recovered and
overall I was fairly pleased."
Brueckmann is looking forward to her freestyle which features music by,
who else, but Radetsky.
"It is very classical," said Brueckmann. "I'm looking forward to it. I
need to keep him steady, quiet, relaxed and forward and I'll be ready to
go."
Phillippa Johnson, from South Africa, won Gold with Benedict, Ann
Cathrin Lubbe and the crowd favorite Zanko took Silver for Norway and
Australia's Georgia Bruce and the big moving V Salute rounded out the
medals.
The competition continues tomorrow evening, the final two Team riders
from the US and Lynn Seidemann and Barbara Grassmyer, will ride their
tests. Keith Newerla will finally get the chance to ride Walk On The
Moon in the Grade Ib Individual Test after supporting his teammates
through the first two days of action.
ENDS
The schedule and results are available on www.equestrian2008.org
, the Paralympic action is also
available on www.universalsports.com .
Please contact Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org with questions.
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation(r) is to provide
leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the
pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes.
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